Method of and means for bending electrotype-plates



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1'.

P. M. FURLONG. METHOD 0]? AND MEANS FOR BENDING ELEGTROTYPE PLATES.

No. 435,086.' Patented Au 26, 1890.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. M. FURLONG. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR BENDING BLEGTROTYPE PLATES.

No. 435,036. Patented Aug. 26, 1890..

HIM i5;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK M. FURLONG, OFjNEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE OURYED ELECTROTYPE PLATE COMPANY, OF NET/V YORK.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR BENDING ELECTROTYPE-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,036, dated August 26, 1890.

Application filed March 5, 1890. Serial No. 342,7 66. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK M. FURLONG,

of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented. certain Improvements in the Method of and Means for Bending Electrotype-Plates, of which the following is a specification. The aim of my invention is to effect the bending of fiat electrotype plates to a true circular form without fracturing or mutilating their printing-surfaces, and this to the end that they may be used on cylin der presses for the production of print of the highest quality. To this end I sustain the electrotype on its outer or printing surface by a flat highly-tempered plate of steel or like material of such thickness and strength that it serves as a firm support and stronly resists a bending action, and while thus sustained I apply a bending pressure to its back by a cylinder, curved die, or equivalent means, and at the same time elfeet a gradual bending of the steel plate, whereby it is caused to bend the electrotype gradually, uniformly, and positively until it acquires the proper form.

The essence of myinvention resides in the method of bending an electrotype by bending a strongly-resisting resilient plate against its printing-surface while a bending-pressure is applied from the opposite side, and the mechanism to this end may be constructed and arranged in a variety of forms. I have shown in the accompanying drawings several mech anisms adapted for the purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred mechanism forming part of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l in a slightly-modified form. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of apparatus containing the elastic plate as a fundamental feature. Fig. 5 is an outline elevation showing another mechanism for the same purpose.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents a flat bed or table, which may be constructed and sustained in any suitable manner, and B a heavy cylinder or roll mounted upon the table and adapted to roll thereover. The table is provided along its opposite sides with the two toothed bars or racks a and the ends of the cylinder provided with corresponding teeth I) to engage the same, and this for the purpose of compellingthe two ends of the cylinder to traverse the table at the same speed and to enable the cylinder to apply longitudinal tension to the resilient plate, as herein described.

O represents a plate of highly-tempered steel or equivalent material, which will resist a bending action and assume a fiat or substantially fiat form when released. This plate is to be of such thickness and strength that it will strongly resist any effort made to bend it and be self-sustaining, in order that it may serve when bent as a strong curved support for the electrotype. As regards its strength and stiffness, the plate is to be clearly distinguished from the blankets and. thin metal sheets used in other bendingmachines between the type-surface and the bending devices properas a means of protecting the type from mutilation. It is held upon the surface of the table and fixed thereto at one end by clips 0 or equivalent fastening devices, while the opposite end is attached by clips 0 orother suitable fastenings to the surface of the cylinder, the arrangement being such that when the cylinder is at one end of the table the plate is extended in flat form, but on rolling the cylinder lengthwise of the table the sheet is wound closely around it under longitudinal tension in the manner represented in the drawings.

D represents the electrotype to be bent. It

is laid face down upon the fiat plate 0, with one end inserted between the plate and the overlying cylinder. A sheet of 1nill-board, cardboard, or equivalent material E is commonly introduced between the electrotype and the plate O for the purpose of protecting the printing-surface; but this is not in all cases a necessary feature. As the cylinder is rolled. forward, the clectrotype is bent upward with a progressive action from one end to the other and wound tightly into the space between the surface of the cylinder and the face of the flexible plate, so that the back of the electrotype is caused to conform exactly to the surface of the cylinder, while its outer or print ing faceis given a true cylindrical formwitlr.

ICO

out in the slightest degree impairing the sharpness of the lines or characters thereon.

In practice it is found that electrotypes for printing high-class engravings, maps, and the most delicate type may be bent by my system in such manner that when used on a cylinder-press they will give results fully equal to those ordinarly attained by the use of flat plates.

In order to relieve the electrotype from undue strain and pressure, I may provide bearers to maintain a suitable distance between the cylinder and the elasticplate. In Figs. 1 and 2 these bearers are in the form of annular collars or bands d, encircling the cylinder and adapted to act upon the surface of the plate 0 outside of or beyond the edges of the electrotype. It is to be distinctly understood that my invention is not restricted to the use of the bearers.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the apparatus therein represented consists of a bed or table A, a cylinder B, and a resilient plate or sheet 0, as in the first-named example. The plate will be attached at one end tothe roll and may be and preferably is attached at the opposite end to the table.

The bearers cl, instead of being attached to the cylinder, are applied to the bed or table along the edges of the resilient plate, so as to wind upon the cylinder and maintain a suitable separation in order to relieve the electrotype from excessive pressure. It Will be perceived that when the bearers are used in either form that portion of the plate which has acquired the true curvature is substantially relieved from strain and pressure.

WVhile it is preferred to employ a complete cylinder or roll, it will of course be understood that a segment of a cylinder may be used provided it has sufficient surface to receive the electrotype, and it is also obvious that the cylinder or roll may be operated either by hand or by mechanism of any appropriate form.

In the form of apparatus represented in Fig. 4, A represents the bed or table, having a concave cylindrical surface, and B the bending-die, formed of a segment of a cylinder sustained and operated by a screw F in a sustaining arm or bracket G.

O is the flat resilient plate resting upon the bed-plate and bearing on its upper surface the electrotype D. When the die is lowered, it applies a bending-pressure to the back of the electrotype, which in turn carries downward the central portion of the plate 0. The bending action, commencing at the middle, is carried outward in both directions toward the edges of the plate, and the electrotype and the underlying plate are brought gradually to the required cylindrical form. Then the die is carried to its lowestpoint, so as to confine the plate and the electrotype between it and the bed, the operation is complete.

In Fig. 5, H II II represent three parallel rolls arranged in such relation that they will give a cylindrical curvature to a plate passed between them after the manner of the rolls commonly used for the bending of boilerplates and for like purposes.

0 represents the resilient plate on which the electrotype D is sustained. It is found that by passing the plate and the electrotype thereon between the rolls a bending action is secured far superior to that obtained when the resilient plate is omitted.

It is to be observed that in each form of the apparatus herein shown the flexible or resilient plate is an essential feature.

With the exception of the plate I lay no claim to either form of apparatus herein shown, except that represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The method of bending an electrotypeplate, consisting in subjecting its back to the pressure of a continuous curved surface, and at the same time bending against its face a strong flat resilient plate, whereby said plate 'is caused to act as a firm support of gradu ally-changing curvature and its elasticity applied to aid in bending the plate.

2. The method of bending electrotypeplates, consisting in sustaining the same at the back by a rigid curved surface, and at the same time bending against its face with a progressive action a strongly-resisting longitudinally-strained resilient plate.

3. In a machine for bending electrotype;

plates, the combination of a normally-fiat resilient plate adapted to strongly resist a bending action, means for applying a bendingpressure to the back of the electrotype, and

means, substantially as described, for bend-' ing the plate against the face of the electrotype.

4. The combination, substantially as shown, of the bed or table, the roll or cylinder movable thereover, and the intermediate resilient plate attached at one end to the roll and at the opposite end to the table.

5. The combination, substantially as shown,

of the bed or table provided with teeth, and the roll provided with correspondingteeth, and the intermediate flexible plate attached at one end to the roll and at the other to the table, whereby the plate is caused to wind upon the roll under longitudinal tension.

6. In a machine for bending electrotypeplates, the combination of a roll or pressure device having a cylindrical surface to act on the back of the electrotype, a flexible plate, and means for winding the same upon the roll, and intermediate bearers to maintain a suitable separation of the roll and plate.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto set my,

hand this 10th day of February, 1890, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

' PATRICK M. FUR-LONG. Witnesses:

THOS. E. NYHAN, EDWARD F. BONNER. 

